Marathon training to get ready for Hunger Games

NATALIE Dormer did the London Marathon to help her get fit for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1'.

The 32-year-old star - who portrays Cressida in the fantasy film franchise - admits the training she did for the 26.2-mile event really helped her to act in scenes when she had to run while holding a semi-automatic rifle.

Natalie said: "I ran the London Marathon back in April and it helped that the training coincided with the stunt work of 'Mockingjay'.

"When we were shooting, we shot the two movies back to back, 'Mockingjay - Part 1'and 'Mockingjay - Part 2', and so we were nine months shooting and I was training for the London Marathon at the time, so that really helped, because a semi-automatic rifle is quite heavy.

"But I'm quite physical and I really enjoyed the cardio demands. It's more in the second movie than the first, I'm more with the camera.

"You have to wait a year for the gun, guys. It was really useful that I love running and that I am quite physical."

Natalie is also well known for her role as Margaery Tyrell in fantasy TV series 'Game of Thrones', and as the show often kills off its main characters, the blonde beauty admits she would prefer for her alter-ego to be eaten by a dragon or poisoned if she has to depart the programme.

Speaking on talk show 'Conan', Natalie - who was beheaded in her role as Anne Boleyn in TV series 'The Tudors' - added: "I've been beheaded before, old story, so ... poison? That's how Jack went as Joffrey, that looks very painful, even to act. "I don't know, maybe via dragon would be good."